09 May 07
Renault used to run mildly suggestive ads in which it claimed that 'size matters'. At that time, the size in question was the Clio's body. But now the size that matters to Renault is the Clio's engines: they're getting smaller.
Just as the 2.5-litre engine in the Laguna range was recently replaced by an equally powerful turbocharged 2.0-litre, Renault is planning to replace 1.4- and even 1.6-litre engines with a new 1.2-litre, 16-valve turbocharged engine called the TCE 100hp.
TCE engine: perhaps size doesn't matter?
Renault claims that the 1.2 TCE - which will be fitted in the new Twingo city car and Modus as well as the current Clio - has the power of a 1.4, the torque of a 1.6 and the fuel consumption of a 1.2. That's 100bhp and 107lb-ft, and, in the case of the Clio, 47.9mpg and 140g/km of carbon dioxide - pretty good for a warmish hatch. The TCE engine is also constructed to meet the Euro V emissions legislation that comes into force in 2009, though pre-2009 models will be sold minus an expensive, more advanced exhaust catalyst system, so they'll only be Euro IV-compliant.
'We think that downsizing is one of the major technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,' explains powertrain engineer Loick Kermanac'h. 'By adding the turbocharger, we can achieve a good compromise between performance, emissions and fuel consumption. It will be fun to drive as well as economical... we can compete with 1.4 and 1.6 engines at a lower cost.'
